Oakham's McFlurry of Controversy: A Golden Arches Odyssey, Four years ago today, a small English town named Oakham found itself at the epicentre of a fast-food feud.

Oakham's McFlurry of Controversy: A Golden Arches Odyssey

Four years ago today, a small English town named Oakham found itself at the epicentre of a fast-food feud. McDonald's, the ubiquitous burger giant, dared to set its sights on Rutland's only county without a golden arch, igniting a firestorm of public debate that transcended greasy fries and Happy Meals.

The proposal for a McDonald's on the outskirts of Oakham sparked objections as diverse as the fillings in a McDouble. While some welcomed the promise of jobs and convenience, others feared the arrival of corporate blight would tarnish the town's idyllic charm. Among these dissenters was a young boy, whose handwritten letter to the council went viral. In eloquent prose, he pleaded for Oakham's soul, claiming a McDonald's would "destroy everything that makes our town special." His heartfelt plea resonated with many, highlighting the depth of feeling on both sides of the McFlurry.

Adding a surreal twist to the saga was the intervention of the Duchess of Rutland herself. Appearing on national television, she implored McDonald's to consider  "Pheasant McNuggets" to cater to local tastes. While undoubtedly raising the public's eyebrows, her intervention also revealed the delicate dance between tradition and commerce at play in the debate.

Local High Society Woman, Caroline Aston, appeared in local and national media stuffing a Big Mac for the cameras at the nearby delightful town of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. fully supporting McDonald's pending arrival into Oakham, Rutland.

Ultimately, the council approved the McDonald's, and in 2020, the golden arches sprouted on the outskirts of Oakham. The sky, however, did not fall. The town still bustles with independent shops, the castle walls almost stand resolute, and the young boy, presumably, is one Happy Meal wiser.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment came courtesy of Piers Morgan, a personality who had thrown his support behind the young boy's letter. Morgan, a man of many pronouncements, had vowed to visit Oakham if the McDonald's went ahead, promising to document the town's demise. Alas, his visit never materialised, leaving some to wonder if his outrage was as fleeting as a lukewarm Big Mac.

Four years on, Oakham remains Oakham. The McDonald's, while perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, is just another blip on the town's historical radar. The Pheasant McNuggets, however, remain a delectable, if unrealised, culinary dream. In the end, Oakham's McDonald's saga serves as a reminder that even the most contentious debates, fuelled by nuggets and news headlines, leave little more than a trace of ketchup on the vast canvas of history. It's a story that may not have a McTwist ending, but it does offer a satisfying bite of the complexities of small-town life in the face of global giants.

Photographs taken at the planning meeting held at Rutland County Council.